August 16, 2016 at 12:02 pm
K9 Team Spotlight: Warden Paul Farrington and K9s Yaro and Koda
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K9 Yaro (left), Warden Paul Farrington (middle), K9 Koda (right)[/caption]
Warden Paul Farrington began his career with the Maine Warden Service in 1997, first patrolling in the Topsfield/Danforth area. Warden Farrington joined the K9 team in 2004 and now works with two K9 partners Yaro and Koda.
K9 Koda is a ten year old black labrador retriever who is highly driven to perform. Koda loves to succeed and hates to fail and will work until he drops. K9 Koda is certified in obedience, article search, tracking, hasty search, and cadaver. When K9 Koda is not on the job, he loves to grouse hunt.
K9 Yaro is a four year old German shepherd who is very playful and eager to please. K9 Yaro loves people and loves to work. K9 Yaro is certified in article search and is also certified in cadaver through N.E.S.P.A.C. When not on the job, K9 Yaro loves to swim and playing with his reward toy.
Warden Farrington says his favorite part about working with his K9 partners is that they don't complain about his singing! But really, he loves being able to help fellow game wardens and other law enforcement officers solve cases. He also loves being able to work with his K9 partners to reunite lost or missing people with their loved ones and providing closure for families that have experienced the tragic loss of a loved one.
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Warden Farrington with K9s Yaro and Koda[/caption]
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Warden Farrington and K9 Koda load into a Maine Forest Service helicopter for transport to a remote search area[/caption]
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Warden Farrington on a track with K9 Yaro[/caption]
Maine Warden Service K9 Team: The Maine Warden Service first established the K9 team in 1980 under the direction of Game Warden Specialist Deborah Palman (retired). Since then, the program has expanded and has become an invaluable resource for the Maine Warden Service. There are currently nine K9/handler teams in the program, lead by Corporal Michelle Merrifield. Maine Warden Service K9s and handlers train a minimum of 320 hours under the direct supervision of a Maine Criminal Justice Academy certified trainer and must complete a field test to get their initial certification with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. They must continue to train under the direction of a trainer a minimum of 16 hours per month and complete a field test annually to maintain certification. Maine Warden Service K9s are trained in the following areas: 1. Tracking: Following the trail of a person by using that persons individual scent. 2. Evidence/Article: Location of items containing human scent, gun powder residue or any other trained scent. 3. Hasty Search: Using the air to locate persons along natural barriers such as trails, wood lines, ditches, streams, and roads. The dog is trained to use the wind to follow human scent to locate injured and lost people. 4. Area Search: Using the air to locate an article or person in a specific area of probability. 5. Cadaver: K9s are trained in the detection of human remains. This is necessary when a search has been ongoing for a period of time in which the person is probably deceased. 6. Obedience: K9s are trained to be obedient and are required to be responsive to commands given by their handler. Over the years, Maine Warden Service K9s have been responsible for locating countless lost persons and have solved numerous fish and wildlife cases. They also assist other agencies with criminal investigations. Maine Warden Service K9 teams have earned a reputation of being successful and as a result, are often requested to travel abroad to assist other states and countries.
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